Gender Transitioning in Canadian Private Practice | Ep 163

Fearless Practice

There are many changes that can happen in private practice, and they can range, depending on what happens in life, from getting married and changing your name, to rebranding your Canadian private practice and even to discovering more about yourself.

Sometimes, the transition is even more significant—and there's something I'd really like to share with you.

In this episode, I talk about transitioning in a Canadian private practice. This is, both personally and professionally, indeed a significant transition, and with everything so far in my private practice and podcast, sharing tips and advice with you is important to me, especially if you are in a similar boat. Join in to hear, learn, and know how to do more!

In this episode:

• Let the necessary parties know

• Update your photos and copy

• Join a queer and trans therapist network!

Let the necessary parties know

‘If you decide to change your name, let the licensing parties that you are a part of know, even if you are not legally changing your name, it can be beneficial to let them know your preferred name so that they know how to address you.’ - Jules Smith

During your transition, it is essential that you continue to keep everything organized and aligned as best you can, since potential and current clients may be searching your name and your Canadian practice’s name. Doing this first can help you start the rest of the changes with ease.

Regarding essential communication lines that you may need to change, such as an email address, my provider Hushmail was great in helping me to change my email address without any hassle and they made sure that if someone emails my past email address—those emails will be forwarded to my new email address!

Update your photos and copy

When you start changing other essential information about you within your business, such as your:

- Photos

- Psychology Today profile information

- Your name

- The copy on your website

- Social media platforms

Be prepared for a possible quiet drop in client outreach. Hopefully it will begin to slowly level out again.

‘I now present as masculine, so my updated photos look very different, as well as [the fact that] my copy now says that I am a part of the queer and trans community of Halifax—it may take time for clients to recognize and trust my new identity.’ - Jules Smith

Either way, before you begin to implement these changes on your website, diversify your income streams or build up an emergency savings fund to keep things financially stable until your Canadian private practice picks up again.

Join a queer and trans therapist network!

‘In Halifax, we have the Queer and Trans Therapists of Nova Scotia … And I really hope that every province has a queer and trans network. If your province doesn’t, this is your sign to start one!’ - Jules Smith

These networks are incredibly helpful for professional networking with other queer therapists, as well as building community and for possibly finding supervision.

There are more links to learn more below in these show notes. I’m so glad that you are here!

Connect with me:

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Website

Resources mentioned and useful links:

Ep 162: New Scheduling Tips for Private Practice in Canada | EP 162

Learn more about the tools and deals that I love and use for my Canadian private practice

Sign up for my free e-course on How to Start an Online Canadian Private Practice

Jane App (use code FEARLESS for one month free)

Get some help and freebies on your website with WordPress!

Mentioned links:

Hushmail link: https://www.hushmail.com/

How to queer your practice: https://www.amazon.ca/Queering-Your-Therapy-Practice-Identities/dp/036782020X

Biographies about trans identities:

https://www.amazon.ca/Me-Myself-They-Non-Binary-Life/dp/148700477X

https://www.amazon.ca/Redefining-Realness-Path-Womanhood-Identity/dp/1476709130

https://www.amazon.ca/Beyond-Gender-Binary-Alok-Vaid-Menon/dp/0593094654/

Fictional but informational stories:

https://www.amazon.ca/Detransition-Baby-Novel-Torrey-Peters/dp/0593133382/

https://www.amazon.ca/Felix-Ever-After-Kacen-Callender/dp/0062820265/

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